KitchenAid Smart Oven+

Touchscreen display.

While working at Whirlpool I helped bring the UI for the touchscreen on this product from an existing project base to a production ready stage. I refined the graphics and layout to provide better user interaction and functionality. Based on feedback from the Whirlpool design team, I helped bring the design phase to completion before it was handed off to developers.

METHODS USED:

Information Architecture, Interface Design, Revisions, Client Approval, Design Handoff

CES 2019 Innovation: Smart Home Honoree

MY ROLE

I was the sole designer on this project for months, taking it from a rough project to a design-handoff state. I worked with the Lead User Experience Specialist for KitchenAid to finalize on aspects of the design. When tutorial concepts of how the product worked were needed for analysis, I photographed and edited them. The UI was reviewed by my manager.

DISCOVERY

Working with a rough design.

My initial steps on this project involved evaluating the pain points of the current information architecture in use when I arrived. I began by redesigning the product flows in Sketch so they had a more cohesive feel from screen to screen while reflecting the brand’s identity guidelines. The original UX designer had already left the company and his direction was minimal, so I also explored alternative ways to depict the intent of how the information should be presented to the user.

CREATION

Finding solutions despite limitations.

There were several unique aspects of this project that required creative solutions. A primary challenge was that all graphics and text were limited to a fixed 16-color palette. I experimented and tweaked a color palette that not only included the right amount of grays for text and icons to appear crisp, but also allowed for two additional colors, red and yellow, to be used sparingly throughout the experience. Working with the development team while the product was in the early stages also allowed me to verify that the design intent was captured, and make adjustments when needed to ensure the best possible end product.

This product launched in January 2019 and took home a CES 2019 Innovation: Smart Home Award.